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TajMahal.com sells for $30k on NameJet, down 40% from 2009

TajMahal.com sold for $29,999 on NameJet yesterday. The last public sale record was for $50,000 in 2009–also on NameJet.

The domain name TajMahal.com sold on NameJet yesterday for $29,999. That’s down 40% from 2009 when the domain name sold for $50,000 on NameJet.

TajMahal.com has been passed around many times. According to DomainTools historical Whois, Internet REIT acquired the domain in 2007. It sold the domain to Daniel Negari’s Cyber2Media in 2008. The domain went under Whois privacy just before the 2009 sale for $50,000, so it was either Negari’s company that sold it for $50,000 or someone made a quick flip.

It’s been under Whois privacy ever since, so it’s possible the 2009 buyer took a $20,000 bath. It’s also possible they sold it to someone else.

While many domains like this have dropped in value over the past ten years, a Domain Name Wire reader pointed out that there’s a bit of controversy around the name Taj Mahal and a push to change the name. According to this BBC fact check, it’s a right-wing push based on Hindu nationalism. I can’t tell how serious it is, but from what I’ve read it seems unlikely the name will change.

Nonetheless, location and tourism names can be affected by external forces. I bought EgyptianPyramids.com before the unrest in Egypt; I have no doubt its value was negatively impacted by a decline in tourism to Egypt.

Comments

More proof that a domain desired by a speculator today, that they can’t have at the asking price; can possibly be had in the future when circumstances change at a lower asking price. Sometimes domain registrants need cash in a hurry; be ready to seize the opportunity.

Renaming Taj Mahal is a local politics gimmick to attract Hindu sympathy. Taj Mahal was built by Muslims; and hindu vs muslims hate politics has surfaced again in recent years under current Modi govt.

Both central (federal) and state governments are from BJP party (which is a pro hindu party, however we are secular country as per our constitution) and are in super-majority, so technically they can pass any law they like.
And they have renamed some towns, roads and railway stations which were
earlier named after Muslim emperors to hindu personalities.

But,

Whenever state government renamed anything they received huge flake from common people. They know that it is not working. So, I think Taj Mahal is not going to be renamed anytime soon. But, it can be privatized for sure. I mean there are high odds of privatization of maintenance and tourism gig.
The official website of Taj Mahal is TajMahal.gov.in which will always remain so.

There are several trademarks too including a major tea brand and a major hotels chain. and HotelTaj.com is already the best they will ever want.

Overall, you only own a piece of expensive souvenir by holding TajMahal.com, which may attract another antique seeker in future and so one is going to build a business over that domain, so million dollar potential is a waking dream.

Correction: Hotel chains website name is TajHotels.com not HotelTaj.com and they did not even bothered to acquire HotelTaj.com and tajhotel.com
(will cost them $10,000 only for both if they wish to buy or free if they wish to UDRP).
Points out how poor is domains market in India.

Correction 2: I believe Indian companies do not invest in harnessing the power of premium domains, but a foreign brand on the other hand can build a fortune over this domain. TajMahal.com can be anything, it is so well known term that it will work as a generic cross-industry term for a startup.